Serial-numbering mechanism for postmarking machines, etc.



ETC.

Mar. 6, 1923.

W. H. BOWES.

SERIAL NUMBERING MECHANISM FOR POSTMARKING MACHINES,

FILED APR. 28,19I9.

Mar. 6, 1923. I 1,447,753

' W. H. B 0 WES.

SERIAL NUMBERING MECHANISM FOR POSTMARKING MACHINES, ETC. FILED APR. 28,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

WALTER H; BOWES, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SERIAL-NUMBERING MECHANISM FOR POSTMAB/KING IEACHINES; ETC.

Application filed April28, 1919. Serial No. 293,171.

d subject of the King of Great Britain, re-

siding at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Oonnecticutfhave invented certain new and useful Improve.

ments in Serial-Numbering Mechanism for Postmarking Machines, Etc; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to machines for marking, post-marking, canceling, etc., mail.

matter, checks and like articles such as shown in Patents No. 1,022,191 of April 2,

1912, and No. 1,128,774 of February .16,

1915, but is useful in connection with other machines.

While the invention is adapted for use in connection with various types of machines for printing upon letters, checks and other objects, I shallhereinafter refer in the description to the objectsv operated upon as letters, using such term. generically and meaning to include thereunder any letter, strip, packag or other object, operated upon by the machine.

The present invention has particular reference to means to print consecutive numbers upon artlcles. passed through a machine; and as applied tothe post-marking,

machines whereby the letters. as they are post-marked are also consecutively num-.

bered, so that the last letter passed through the machine will show by the number thereon the total number of such letters passed through the machine.

For certain practical purposes itisnecessary or desirable to count the number of letters passed through a post-marking machine, and post-marked thereby. This can only be accurately done by a mechanism which will count and print. in synchronism with the postrmarking mechanism, and which. will only register when the postmarking mechanism I actually. operates. i It is further; desirable to printthe proper consecutive number upon each. letter passed hroushthe mac ne o a y no the. num er a'ny t er pas h g e.

machine. it will be seen how many letters have been previously passed through the umber ng; i i hlani mto e 'qn rb d ynism synchronously with the usual printing the mechanism which controls the operation of the marking-die of such machine; another object is to enable the numbering mechanism to be mounted upon the print ing die, or member carrying the marking de vices, so that the inking mechanism for the marking devices can also ink the numbering devices. Further objects are to make a very compact, simple and eflicient mechanism which while particularly adapted, in the form shown, to the type of machine set, forth in the patents aforesaid can readily be adapted to various other types of machines.

The' present invention resides in novel and effective means for printing consecutive numbers on the successive letters and operating the numbering printing mechaor post-marking mechanism of the machine; and in controlling the numbering mechanism by the mechanism which con trols the post-marking mechanism, so that the numbering mechanism only operates as and when the post-marking mechanism operates properly.

I will explain one specific embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, for the purpose of facilitating an understanding thereof; and set forth in the claims the essentials of; the in vention, and novel combinations of parts and novel features for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of, a portion of the post-marking devices and trip mechanism controlling same of a post-marking and canceling machine such as indicated in the patents aforesaid, with my improved numbering printing devices applied thereto.

Figure 2 an enlarged detail sectional View on the line 22Fig. 3.

Figure 3 is. an enlargedzsectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

' In the drawings R and R indicate feed rollers by which articles such as letters, are directed to and between the printer l? and, C o-acting impression roller I of a postmarking'machine. The, printer P, in the construction shown, comprises a segmental body 1 which carries sprinting. die I that may be of any desired construction and havea printing surface adaptedto give anyt desired impression. When used for postmarking machines the printingsurfaces on the die and printer would make the desired post-marking and canceling impression on the letter. The printing surfaces project sufficiently beyond the body 1 to come into contact with the object M, such as a letter, passing between the printing or impression roller after being fed thereto by the feed rollers R, R.

The body 1 of the printer is preferably keyed to a shaft 2, which may have its upper end journaled in an over-head bracket f that may be attached to the top plate F of the machine, in the usual manner; and said shaft ordinarily extends below the top plate F and carries upper and lower members 2, 2 of a friction clutch, the intermediate member 2 of which clutch is constantly driven by gearing on the machine, when the latter is in operation, so that the shaft if released will be rotated. This clutch and means for operating the shaft form no part of the present invention, and may be such as described in the patents aforesaid, or of other suitable type.

Shaft 2 is shown as provided with a stop arm 2 carrying a stop roller 2 which is adapted to contact with a stop roller 3 on one arm of a lever 3, pivoted on the frame of the machine. The other arm of lever 3 is pivotally connected by a link 3" to one arm of a trip finger 3 that projects across the bite of the rollers R, B into the path of the letter M, and is adapted to be operated by a passing letter; and each time the trip is engaged and moved by a letter the arm 3 through the described connections is momentarily moved out of the way of the arm 2, and permits the friction drive to immediately cause shaft 2 and printer P to make one revolution; but the arm 3 is immediately returned to position to again engage the arm 2 and stop the printer after it has made a complete rotation.

In general the aforesaid parts are or may be constructed and operated as described in the said patents, so that the printer is permitted to make one complete rotation for each letter passing to and between the printer and impression roller; the printer and shaft 2 being stopped after each rotation in normal position as shown in Fig. 1 by the engagement of the arm 2* with the stop arm 3.

The other parts of the machine,such as the frictional driving means for the printing roller and the means for operating the printing and impression rollersare well known and form no part of the present inrention, and are therefore not shown nor explained in detail herein. but will be readily understood by those familiar with this class of machines. Preferably I employ the improved tripping mechanism shown in Patent No. 1,309,655, dated. July 15, 1919.

In the present instance I make the body 1, of the printer sufficiently large to carry a counting, numbering and printing mechanism, indicated at N. This numbering mechanism comprises a set of numeral disks which are rotatably mounted upon the same axial shaft or support and each disk is provided with teeth which bear numeral type, from O to 9 inclusive, corresponding in position to the usual members on the peripheries of numeral counting wheels or disks. The said series of numeral disks are provided with usual or suitable means (not shown) for carrying over from one disk to the other each time a disk of lower denomination makes a complete revolution as is usual in counting and registering mech anism.

I do not herein claim any particular construction of counting disks or of the carry over mechanisms thereof and many such are common in the art and their construction and operation well understood and it is unnecessary to explain or illustrate the same in detail. The total which the numbering mechanism is adapted to count would depend upon the number of counting disks used; and the number of disks used will depend upon the largest total number of letters which it is desired to have the machine count and consecutively print.

As shown in the drawing, the first or units disk 4 is provided with an annular recess or chamber 4" which has ten notches 4 in its inner periphery, one notch for each tooth; these notches are adapted to be successively engaged by a pawl 5* pivoted on an arm 5 and yieldingly pressed into engagement with the notches by a spring 5. The arm 5 is pivoted on the shaft 5 upon which the carrier wheels are mounted in proper relation to each other, and this shaft 5 and the numeral disks are placed within a parti-cylindric recess 1*, in the body 1, in such position that the faces of the outermost numeral type 4 on the numeral disks will project the same distance from the shaft 2 as the printing surfaces 1 and in such position that numbers will be printed by the type 4 of the numeral disks upon the letters after and adjacent to the impressions on such letters made by the printing surfaces 1.

The stud upon which pawl 5 is pivoted projects above the body 1 andpreferably carries a friction roller 5, 'which engages a race-cam groove 6 in a cam 6, which is shown as provided with a hub 6 surrounding the shaft 2 above the printer, and forming a bushing for the upper end of the shaft 2. said hub extending into. the bracket 7 and being fastened non-rotatably thereto by means of a key 6". see Fig. 3. An idle roller 7 may be journaled upon the hub of this cam, between the cam proper and the arm f,

said roller being adapted to co-act with the. impression roller I in forwarding the letters.

The )arts are so arran ed and ,ositioned' pr1nter P 18 stopped by reason,

in Fig. 1, the, pawl 5 has completed a. one

step .movement ofthe units disk 4:, andthe numeral disks are all in .positionto have an impression taken from the type thereon, which. then project beyond, the. body 1, as indicated irrFig. 2.. T hen when the printer moving the trip finger 3 than, through the described connections, moving arm 3 momentarily out of the path of the arm 2) the printer P is rotated, turning in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 and the printing surfaces 1 and the projecting type on the numeral disks are suc- T, and successively make an imprint upon the letter as it passes between the printer P and the impression roller I.

As the printer rotates cam roller 5 traverses the race-cam groove (indicated by dotted lines 6 in Fig. 2) and this cam is so disposed or formed that the pawl 5 is re tracted, (the numbering wheels remaining unaffected), while the numbering mechanism is moved by the printer from the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 3 to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, at which time the pawl has been retracted sufficiently to engage the next succeeding notch in the counting disk 4, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

An impression is made by the type on the counting disks upon the letter by the action of the impression roller I, as the type pass the point I), Fig. 3; and then after the impression has been taken and while the roller or finger 5 traverses the remainder of the cam-race from the point I) on around to the point a, it actuates the pawl 5 and causes it to move the units numeral disk 4 one notch, or one tooth, bringing a new number into position for printing and completing this movement just before the shaft 2 and printer P have made a complete revolution and return to their initial normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which position they are arrested by the re-engagement of the stop arm 2 with stop lever 3.

Each time the printer P is released and the postmarking devices make an impression on the letter the numbering mechanism also makes an impression; and then the numeral disks are shifted one unit, and these actions take place for and during each complete rotation of the shaft 2. This shaft 2 can only make one rotation each time that the trip finger 3 causes the release of the printer; and the trip finger 3 is only actuated once by and for each letter passing through the machine.

By the described means each letter passed through a machine of the character described is released-(by. a: letter M engaging and.

is not only post-marked and canceled, but, is also imprinted with a consecutivenumber; and therefore after passing any number of letters through thelmachine, the number of letters post inarked can be immediately de: termined by. the. number .on the last letter passed through themachine and this .can

also be verified if d'esired, by inspecting the niuabenng'mechanism in the machine.

While 'for..cbnveniencej, I, have, described the invention as used in connection witha postemarkin v .and canceling machine, it obvlously coulc 'be'readily adapted for use with other mechanisms employing a rotary member, and therefore I do not consider the invention restricted to the particular use or application thereof illustrated and described cessively inked, as by the usual ink roller 'h erein.

What I claim is:

1. In combination a rotary member; a printing member having a printing surface and a recess beside such surface; a numbering mechanism mounted in said recess and comprising a set of axially alined numeral wheels arranged on an axis beside and parallel with the axis of the printing member and adapted to coact with the other member to print numbers; a fixed cam mounted at one end of the rotary member and having a sleeve in which the shaft of the rotary member is journaled; an oscillating lever pivoted on the axis of the numeral wheels and engaging said cam; and means carried by said lever for shifting the numeral wheels one unit for eachcomplete rotation of the rotary member.

2. In combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 1; means for rotating the member carrying the numbering mechanism; means for stopping the said member after each rotation thereof, and means for releasing the said member.

3. In combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 1; means for rotating the member carrying the numbering mechanism; means for stopping the said member after each rotation thereof; means for feeding letters; and letter controlled means whereby the said member is released when the letter is fed to be printed.

4. In combination a rotary member carrying a printing surface; means for rotating the member; means for stopping the said member after each rotation thereof; and means for releasing the said member; with a numbering mechanism mounted on said member and comprising plurality of numeral. wheels rotating on a common axis, the axis of said wheels being parallel with and to one side of the axis of said member; a lever pivotally mounted at one end of the axis of the numeral wheels; and a fixed cam mounted at the adjacent end of the rotary member and engaging the said lever, whereby the lever is operated to shift the numeral wheels one unit during each rotation of said rotary member.

5. In combination a rotary member having a printing surface on its side and a recess in its side adjacent the printing surface; means for rotating the member; means for stopping the said member after each rotation thereof; and means for releasing the said member; with a numbering mechanism mounted in the recess in said printing memher and comprising a plurality of numeral Wheels rotating on an axis parallel With and to one side of the axis of said member; a fixed cam mounted at one end of the rotary member; an oscillating lever pivoted on the axis of the numeral wheels and carried by the rotary member and engaging said cam; and means carried by said lever whereby the numeral Wheels are shifted one unit for each complete rotation of the rotary member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature.

WALTER H. BOWES. 

